DEI and Values Statement
Upcycle Bikes satisfies our mission to address the transportation challenges of individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds, ethnicities, and national origins; faiths and ideologies; sexual orientations; gender expressions and gender identities; and races and racial identities. We are committed to advocating for and supporting individuals from all income groups across the full economic spectrum. We support and promote the idea of all individuals working together to support each other to build one inclusive and accessible community.
Upcycle Bikes’ core values include promoting safety, community, dignity, and environmental responsibility. We embrace, embody, and advocate these values across our operations and programs at all organizational levels.
Meet the Team
Rick Armbruster, Executive Director
Rick started taking apart and modifying bikes as a kid and has enjoyed the challenge of maintaining them ever since. He enjoys giving back to the community and has been active with several organizations in the Grand Rapids area. The idea for Upcycle Bikes came from his support of Afghan refugees joining our community and their transportation challenges. He has a background in business and education and “retired” to become a stay-at-home dad.
Rick is married with two kids and two dogs. He enjoys being active outside in any weather.
Carol Hallas, Project Manager
Carol recently retired from teaching English to refugees. She was extremely passionate about her work and her students and is enthusiastically applying those same passions to her role at Upcycle Bikes. She is an artist and musician with a creative nature and an attention to detail. Always seeking adventure and fun, Carol loves the freedom her bicycle brings. Joining the Upcycle Bikes team enables her to share that same freedom with others in the community.
Carol shares her life with her husband, son, daughter, and two cuddly Labradors.
Mike Clark, Shop Manager & Mechanic
Mike's believes in the power of the bike to change people's lives for the better. He is retired from over 40 years in the bike shop business as everything from owner to part-time tire-pumper. He is also a long time coach and head of tech support for the national JDRF Ride to Cure program. Mike is an avid bike racer, rider, and trip organizer both locally and nationally. He is also known as "The Tandem Guy" in West Michigan. He is a tremendous resource and an even better person with a big heart.
When not in the saddle, wrenching, or on-stage with his bandmates, he's likely home in Holland with his wife, son, cat and two dogs.
Mason Wilson, Mechanic & Online Sales
Bio coming soon.
Greg Dennany, Mechanic
Greg retired from Consumers Energy as a System Engineer and continues to collaborate with former colleagues on technical and customer service issues. He has maintained and upgraded countless bikes over the last four decades for himself and others and was a shop mechanic from 2016 - 2023 in a local shop. He was active with Elves & More West Michigan, a local nonprofit that provided bikes to kids at Christmas from 2005 through 2020.
Greg is very active with the Boy Scouts on multiple levels and takes on various woodworking and electrical projects. He spends lots of time with his wife, son, and dog looking for the next series of shenanigans for his two granddaughters.
Linda Thompson-Poeder, Education Coordinator
Linda Thompson-Poeder has been an influential fixture on the local cycling scene for years and is known for her sense of humor, toughness on the bike, and commitment to helping others discover and embrace the joy of cycling. She’s been a coach on the local Breakthrough T1D cycling team and part of the National Tech Support Crew for years, traveling to rides all over the country.
Linda is a mother of four, a grandmother of one, and a friend to all. She makes her home in Caledonia with her spouse Scott and two very entitled felines.
Volunteers
Upcycle Bikes depends heavily on volunteers. Bike prep experts clean and prepare the bikes. Their obsessive processes are based on a desire to treat our bike recipients with dignity and to offer bikes worthy of excitement. Others work as mechanics and put the same attention to detail into making sure our bikes are both functional and safe before they go out the door. A large cast of of others support our operations at events, providing technical expertise, sharing nonprofit experiences, and just getting stuff done!
It’s cliche to say that we couldn’t function without our volunteers, but it’s true. We are a growing, collaborative, and passionate community working to have fun and make an impact every day.
